Strange Adventures in Infinite Space

2003 Independent Games Festival Finalist

Here's how a typical game works: You spend 20 hours or more pounding through a series of pre-planned linear obstacles, very often hurling your controller across the room or banging on your desk in frustration as you meet a boss that seems well nigh impossible until you go read a walk-through... And when you are done, you are done, because you've finished, and why would you ever want to play it again?

Here's how Strange Adventures in Infinite Space works: You spend twenty minutes or less, you have a satisfying game experience, and there is never a moment of frustration... if you fail it doesn't really matter because you can always start another game. And when it's done, you find yourself saying "damn, it's over already? I want to play again."

In SAIS, you have a starship, are in hock to a mobster, and have to raise enough cash to pay him off in a limited number of days. You click on a star system and warp there, finding... something ... sometimes a strange alien artifact, sometimes moaning space whales, sometimes people who help you out or want to trade, and sometimes hostile alien craft you must fight. And then you keep going until you run out of days (you can be late, but pay an interest penalty), and either pay off your debt or (presumably) have your legs broken.

The game is randomly generated each time, and the universe you face is different every time you play. A huge number of different encounters can occur in the universe, so even though you may run into the same encounter the next time you play, even after you've played a lot you may encounter something new--and anyway, you never encounter them in the same order.

This randomness has a downside; sometimes you're just screwed from the start, because you run into the tough aliens at the beginning, when you haven't found cool weapons with which to upgrade your ship. Them's the breaks, and no big deal; you lose, it happens, play again, better luck next time.

Ernest Adams calls this "the perfect little game." We're not sure there's any such thing as perfection, this side of the grave at least, but the sentiment is spot on. SAIS is, if you will, a gem-like "casual" game for people who don't play "casual" games... That is, like casual games, it's a quick play and easy to pick up and a highly enjoyable way to waste a little time. But unlike casual games, it's not another braindead pick-three puzzle or some damn thing; it's a space exploration and combat game stripped down to its bare essentials. Quick pick-up gaming for geeks like you and me.

You will like this game. Buy it now. Or at least check out the damn demo.

Not convinced yet?

"This game is a rare gem."
- Scott R Krol, PC Gameworld

"...engaging and tasty."
- Tom Chick, GameSpy

"The ultimate pickup game."
- Matt Gallant, Gizmodo

"SAIS delivers on all counts."
- James Sterrett, Games Domain

"They've created a perfect short game."
- Ernest Adams, Gamasutra

"....the most addictive game since NetHack."
- Charlotte Rychlik-Prince, Puppy Games

"....an existential height of great re-playability and meaning."
- Steve Fulton, GamerDad

"Digital-Eel did a kick ass job."
- James "Prophet" Fudge, Voodoo Extreme

"Great in its simplicity, rich with variety, SAIS has a wonderful gameplay formula."
- Kit Pierce, MacGamer

"It seems to me that SAIS is a perfect example of Trip Hawkins' old maxim: simple, hot, and deep."
- Ernest Adams, Gamasutra

"...this game oozes fun."
- Scott Bolderson, Dungeon Crawler Magazine

"Classic stuff."
- keef, DeadAlfs

"...possibly the best game you have never heard of."
- John Breeden II, Game Industry News

"...Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is irresistible."
- Scott C., NeedCoffee.com

"If you're a fan of exploration games, Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is for you!"
- Adman, Australian GameZone

"...find out what Star Control 3 really should have been, but wasn't. Two
thumbs up..."
- Sarinee Achavanuntakul, The Underdogs

"...(SAIS) manages to ooze the type of addictive gameplay that is so sparse or missing from todays games..."
- keef, DeadAlfs

"The sound effects themselves are absolutely perfect. From the haunting melody of deep space whales to the meaty thud of explosive shells leaving the barrels of your chain guns..."
- Gregory Micek, Do It Yourself Games

"The sound effects and little loops are funny, catchy, clever, and cool. Everything that needs a sound has a sound, and they gel together perfectly. In fact this may be one of the few games where I've been more impressed by the sound than the graphics."
- Charlotte Rychlik-Prince, Puppy Games

"....the interface is well designed and simple, and the music and sound are excellent."
- Kit Pierce, MacGamer

"...the best thing about the game, and the first thing I noticed about it, even before I was impressed by the variety, was how easy it was to learn and play."
- RPG News

"The learning curve for getting into the game takes about 47 seconds and then it's all delving into the intricacies of this dainty little gem."
- Shaolin Wooden Men

"It's a coffee break game. A game you can pick up on your portable on the train or quickly slam on while on the phone to someone you'd really rather not be talking to. Yes, I have done that! "
- keef, DeadAlfs

"Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is simplicity at its best."
- Kevin Parrish, Invisible Dream

"SAIS is an aural and visual treat. The 2D graphics have a beautiful, unique style to them, and convey the game to you simply and attractively. It takes all of 2 minutes to forget all the advances in 3D technology and become immersed."
- Charlotte Rychlik-Prince, Puppy Games

"...the artistic design of the game is absolutely perfect."
- Gregory Micek, Do It Yourself Games

"The adventures in SAIS may be strange, but they are wonderfully entertaining and thoroughly addictive."
- James Sterrett, Games Domain

"If you want to explore the known universe but have only about 15 minutes to spare, this is the title for you."
- John Breeden II, WashingtonPost.com

"...rest assured that you will get enough fun out of this little gem..."
- Falcon, IanStorm

"The fact that the game can be completed in a matter of five to fifteen minutes yet remaining enjoyable to play over and over again, is incredible."
- Emilio "Psychon" Gandin, BoltGames

"I've probably played the game 150 times and still haven't seen everything..."
- Shaolin Wooden Men

"Strange Adventures is an addictive little game much like Bejeweled or Tetris, but instead of being a puzzle, it's a little adventure that you can lose yourself in for a few minutes at a time."
- Bruce Geryk, GameSpot PC

"SAIS offers incredible replayability and, at $15, is the best value for money of anything I've seen in years."
- Ernest Adams, Gamasutra

"The best part about the game is that you can get an incredibly fun title for the money you find inside your couch, well, my couch anyway..."
- John Breeden II, Game Industry News

"It only costs $15 too, around eleven of your good old English pounds guv, which for the amount I've played it represents obscenely good value for
money. "
- keef, DeadAlfs

"For $15, it's a great buy that will end up being one of those games you keep running in the background and fire up for a while when you need a break."
- Bruce Geryk, GameSpot PC

"I'd just like to say that I have been playing far more Strange Adventures in Infinite Space than is healthy today. If you don't want your time sucked up like ground ecstasy at a swingers' convention, please stay away from this title."
- Allan Sugarbaker, OgreCave.com

"....the designers at Digital Eel seem to be thumbing their noses at the establishment, and doing things their own fresh and independent way."
- Steve Fulton, GamerDad

And Other Relevant Links

• Mods for SAIS
  
• The Source Code!